The Classroom Program of KDE
provides an inquiry-based approach to science that is fun and meaningful. NCEAS ecologists
and teachers in Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria schools work with 5th grade classes to design and conduct scientific experiments in
ecology. Students learn the scientific method by doing it, from experimental design and hypothesis, data gathering and
analysis, to reporting results and conclusions.

Scientists also talk with students about what ecologists do, how they became interested in becoming
ecologists, and how students can train for a career in ecology. Articles
on this topic are included on the web site.

Your class will be visited 3 times by an NCEAS scientist. During those visits, your scientist will:

Discuss science, ecology, and what she or he does

Help your class design a practical ecology experiment that your class can complete in partnership
with the scientist

Visit your classroom to help supervise the experiment, discuss the results, and help produce a
poster for a final poster session and to be published on your
class’s web page